Christmas Mornin'

We had such an incredible Holiday season. I was very sad to see it go. So sad, in fact, that I just barely took my tree down last weekend. I love the holidays and did not want it to end. We spent Christmas Eve at Abu and Papa's house with all the kids cousins (most of them anyway - we really missed the Townsends this year). They had sooo much fun. And they really enjoyed their gifts from Abu and Papa this year too.

Christmas morning started off as it usually does, with wrapping paper covering the entry to the Living Room (a tradition started by Grandma Lorrie). So once everyone was awake the kids ran through it to see all their presents. The first thing everyone saw was Jaxon's new golf club set. He was sooo stinkin' excited. He loooves to go golfing with daddy and now he has his own real clubs (does that mean he can't go for free anymore?). Anyway, Summer got Guitar Hero I & II. She was freakin' excited - as you can tell-, and little Miss Hallie got the Polly Pockets she has been waiting years and years for (at least it seemed like years and years). It was a wonderful Christmas morning.

After breakfast we got ready and headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Where we were greeted with more wrapping paper to run through. We spent the day with Alan's brothers and Sister. And aside from my sever allergic reaction to the cat - followed by being knocked out from allergy meds - It was really fun. We played lots of Guitar Hero and the family favorite - Pounce. Later that night Ben and Jen came and slept over. We watched a movie - pirates maybe. Anyway we had a great time with them, we always do. . .

I love the holidays - the smell of my Christmas Trimmings candle - spending time with family. I am sad to see it end, but I'm sure it will come around faster than I think this next year.

Christmas Program

Hallie and Jaxon go to the best preschool ever - at least I think so- and every year they have a Christmas program at BYU (they go to Learning Dynamics). I also sent Summer there and I love it. They teach the kids to read before kindergarten and they have amazing teachers. Both of them have perfect teachers for their personalities. Jaxon has Mrs. Mulliner who thinks he's great and loves to see him come out of his shell and miss Hallie has Mrs. Schaack who is the most darling teacher. She absolutely loves Hallie and Hallie loves her too. Hallie likes to bring her pictures that she colored for her all the time. She is so sweet. I only wish she was teaching 4 year olds next year, but that's OK. Hallie is excited to be in Mrs. Mulliner's class too.

(Jaxon and McCoy)

Anywho, the program was soo cute this year. It's so fun seeing all these little kids waving to their parents from the stage. I was so proud of them. Jaxon had a speaking part to do with his best buddy McCoy and I was worried he would get too shy - he is my shy one- but he actually did it and I was a proud Mama. Hallie was so cute sitting right on the front row doing all the actions. It might have seemed like a lame program to some, but to a proud mom it was the cutest program in the world. I love my little Irish twins. They keep me on my toes and I just love the ages they are at right now. They are so much fun.

Summer and the Bee. . .

Summer was in Noah Webster Academy's first annual Spelling Bee this year!! She and Joelle where the two girls that went from their fourth grade class. She practiced a lot and she was really nervous. But she did great. We were so proud of her!
Summer is a great speller and I think it's from her love of reading. I always joke to my sister, Carolina, that she is more like her than me. Caro always had her nose in a book growing up. I remember she would go out and read up in the tree in our front yard every day. Summer is very much like that. Granted we don't have a tree to sit in and read, but Summer reads just about everywhere else.

Way to go Summer!!

Let it snow!!

The snow finally started coming down a few weeks ago. Alan and the kids spent an entire afternoon out in the front yard creating a snow cave that many passers by soon came to envy.

It was so strong that it held Alan and all three kids at the same time without breaking. . .WOW! Those are some serious snow cave building skills. I'm sure Alan must have taken a snow cave building class at BYU at some point, because apparently he is good...

They had so much fun rolling around in the snow, making the cave, and of course (their favorite) - having a snow ball fight!

Oh what a wonderful day it was.

The kids have really taken to sledding also. They will go any chance they get and they are more daring than I am. I'm glad they are enjoying the snow while it is here.

Colorado, Fort Collins

Well, we did finally make it to Colorado for Thanksgiving! It was a long , scary drive in -4 degree weather with black ice and fog, but we made it safe and arrived at like 1 am! Wahoo! We were so excited to see eachother that we stayed up talking until about 2:30. Are we crazy? Probably...

Anywho, we cooked all of Thanksgiving dinner by ourselves and it was muy delicioso!! We were truly proud of ourselves. I think it was quite possibly the best thanksgiving dinner ever made. Yum-Yum!!

What a great blessing it is to have family and to be able to spend holidays with them. I absolutely love my sister. She is my best friend. I love her boys as if they were my own. I know I sound seriously cheesy, but it has to be said. We talk on the phone everyday and the only regret I have is that we don't live close. I miss them everysingle day and I know that my kids do to. We love you guys so much Caro, thanks for being the greatest sista in the world.

OK, enough sappiness. We got some seriously great deals on black Friday. Did you know that Walmart will price match if you have the ad? We saved so much time doing this and we also waited until 8:30 am to go and we still got almost everything we wanted. It was so much better not fighting the crowds and the crazy ladies playing bumper carts!

Later that day we went to downtown Fort Collins to see Santa and he was so sweet and took his time with the kids. Then we went and saw Fred Claus at the movies. It was really funny.

On Saturday we spent the afternoon in beautiful Denver where we ate at Hard Rock Cafe, saw the field were the Colorado Rockies play (can't remember the name), and bought cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory (which costs and arm and a leg, but so worth it - yummy!).

We left Sunday morning and took the beautiful drive through the Rocky Mountains. We had so much fun that none of us wanted to leave.

We are glad we made it home safely, but we will miss the Townsends so much. Thanks for letting us crash at your cute little house. We can't wait to see you all again.

Sittin', waitin', wishin'...

So, funny story...


We were supposed to leave early this morning to visit my sista in "Colorado, Fort Collins"(that's what my kids call it). Well, as we were pulling out of town. . . our car stalled. So, we had to have my bro, Andres, tow us to a repair shop to get it fixed and then bring us home. Thanks Andres!! You're a life saver!


So then we thought we would borrow my Dad's Suburban. My little sista, Elli, brought it to us cause she was heading up here anyways(Thanks Ells!!) and all we had to do was get it inspected and registered. Well . . . it didn't pass - surprise, surprise!! The emissions failed and no one can get it repaired today. (sigh)


So, we decided to just wait for our yukon to get fixed and take that. I figure third times a charm, right? Or ... three strikes and you're out (lets hope it's third times a charm)! Turns out it was a fuel pump and the final amount will be somewhere in the amount of $700! Aaaaahh!!


So here we sit, waiting, wishing we could be in Colorado. Which we would be already if we had left as planned this morning. They said 3:00 pm for a finished time, but we will see. Since we have been sooo lucky today, I bet it will be done right on time! LOL


It does leave me wondering though ... Is there a reason all this happened? Are we supposed to go to Colorado? I guess we will find out soon enough!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

Motherhood . . . Re-discovered

So, I just got back from watching 'The Nanny Diaries' with some friends and it really left me thinking. I don't know if you've read the book or seen the movie yet, but I've done both and can I just say that the movie really makes you feel it a little bit more. I really think every mom should see this movie.
In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, 'The Nanny Diaries' is about a young girl who becomes a nanny to a Mr. & Mrs. X that live on the upper east side of Manhattan.
Anywho, watching this movie and seeing these "Mom's" who care more about themselves amd LOVE themselves more than their children and these so called "Dad's" that are never around, really left me feeling shocked and appaled. How can mothers treat their children this way? How can they call themselves mothers? It made me extremely sad to realize that children actually live the way this movie portrays. It breaks my heart.

The Nanny says something to Mrs. X at the end that really touched me. She said that your kid doesn't care what you're wearing or whether your meals are nutritionally balanced, they just want you there having dinner with them and just being there - with THEM. Nothing else matters. They love you no matter what - right now - and that's not always going to be there. Love them now - be there with them NOW, because we will never get this time back.(I'm sure I messed that all up, but that's how it stuck with me).

I know I am not a perfect mom, but this movie made me want to do better, to try harder to be more patient, to not 'sweat the small stuff', and to try to see the world through their eyes.

So I am left feeling incredibly lucky to have such wonderful children that I get to raise alongside my amazing husband who loves me. So why not count my blessings. . .

Things I love about motherhood:

1. Sticky kisses
2. Little naked bottoms running around the house
3. 'Lovies' and 'sugar'
4. Mommy kisses to make owies feel better
5. Snuggling
6. Watching Disney Channel
7. The new baby smell
8. Being loved unconditionally
9. The random questions kids ask
10.Private violin performances by my little musicians
11.Comforting a sick child
12.Late night feedings
13.Watching them learn to ride a bike
14.Watching them learn to read
15.Going to Soccer games
16.Going to the park
17.Seeing your children love each other
18.Seeing how much your children love their daddy and how much more he loves them.
19.Sad puppy eyes & tear stained faces
20.The things they pray for

The list could go on and on, but is there anything better than this?
I love my kids and I love being a MOM.

Girls Night Out!!

The Hannah Montana Concert was sooo much fun!!
Thanks for coming with us Heather and Natalia!

Nauvoo

GOOD STUFF!


Ok...see...my wife isn't the only one making posts...


Anyway, Elisa and I took a trip over the summer to Nauvoo. There is always a good reason to take a vacation, but this had a particular purpose. A close friend of mine (see how close) from when I was just a wee lad got sealed to his wife and kids in July. It was exciting because he left the church for a period of time, so it was really neat to see the change in him on his path back to the church.


Well Elisa and I decided to fly out, just the two of us. A road trip with 3 kids (as fun as it sounds) at this time just didn't quite sit right. Trying to talk a pregnant Elisa into an adventure with a motorhome and camping is like trying to convince me that Hillary Clinton is a good presidential candidate. Sorry...I get kind of sidetracked. So we decided to fly to St. Louis (always good to see new places...right?) and then drive up to Nauvoo.


It was really fun to see this part of the country as we had never been there before. We drove over the Mississippi river a few times...also something we had never done.


Nauvoo in itself was pretty amazing. It is this tiny little town just off of the river, no real geographic significance, but what a significant part of the churches history. The church has spent a lot of time and money in researching the actual locations, and restoring the sites as they were during the time the saints lived there.

Each site has missionaries on site to explain the significance of that site. We learned about gunsmiths, printing operations, bakers, brick makers, everything they saints needed for survival.




Then of course there was the temple. What a building! It was so neat to walk the hallways of that building to see the architecture the saints used in their time. There is a very interesting story of the church coming across a set of the original plans for the building from a relative of the architect. One of the original sets of keys is displayed in the hallway of the temple.


On top of that to see a close friend sealed after years of inactivity, it was a lot of fun.


We also got to see Carthage jail. I didn't know that the original door was still there. The bullet hole through which Hyrum was killed. I would recommend this trip to anyone.

First annual Halloween Party!!

We held our first annual Adults Only Halloween party last Friday and oh what fun!! Even though many of our guests went missing and did not make it, those of us who did make had a fabulous time. Si I'm pretty sure that we will continue on this tradition for years to come.

Let me tell you the recipe for a perfect-o Halloween Party....

First you need just the right decorations and deliciously good food...

Then you stir in some fabulous guests... In costume (of course)...

And last, but certainly not least, you mix in some rediculously funny games...

And that makes for a splendorific Halloween party!!

Enjoy...

Missing Jaxon

So my little guy is away this weekend visiting his cousins in Colorado. And i totally miss him. I think we all miss him.

But apparently he doesn't miss us, because he never wants to talk to us because he is always way too busy having fun. So much fun in fact, that he told me today he didn't ever want to come home!!

My brother in law, Jamie, seems to think he is an angel and would also love to keep him. Carolina says she can have Jamie write up the papers so they can have visitation rights every two weeks! But I think not. I miss my "stinky man" way too much.

I'm so glad he got to go. My parents took him out for Christian's B-day and Jamie passing the bar! Congratulations Jamie!! We are sooo proud of you!

Anyway, it's been really good for Hallie to be alone for a while. I really think she is starting to realize how much fun it is having Jaxon around, because she is getting really bored and bothering me all the time.

We miss Jaxon and can't wait to see him on Tuesday!

A day at the corn maze

Over fall break we went with our good friends, the Dorny's, to Vineyard Garden's corn maze. We spent a good two hours there and the kids had a blast! Hallie was especially excited to go with her "boyfriend" Ethan(Isn't he a handsome little man?). Hallie loves to play with Ethan and now she is starting to call him her boyfriend. How cute is that?

Jaxon was also very happy he could play with his "best friend", Cameron. Since we don't get to see them all the time, my kids are always excited to play with them.

The kids had so much that they did NOT want to leave,

but we coaxed them with Pizza for lunch. It works every time!!

The end of the end...

Well, we are done! What I mean by that is... Baby Tyson is officially our last baby! And we are thrilled(can you tell). Well, at least I am. I can't say that much for Alan who had to undergo the big "V". But what a trooper he was. It was amazingly quick and he has recovered miraculously. It has left me wondering, Why don't all guys do that instead of making their wives have their tubes tied? Not only is it much easier on their bodies, but it is dirt cheap!! I would recommend it to anyone, and I think Alan would too.

Tyson's Blessing

Sunday Sep. 30th Baby Tyson was blessed. It was such a wonderful day. And can I just say that I have an AMAZING husband! The blessing he gave was unbelievable. I am so lucky to be married to such a wonderful man and fabulous father.
Baby Tyson was so good too. He didn't make a sound up there. And he looked so handsome in his blessing outfit. It was a really special day for our whole family.
It was really fun to have all our family together too. Even my cousin Ariel, from Argentina, was here for the big day. We had a great time together and I think everyone enjoyed the many soups we had at the luncheon.

Things my Hallie says

I am sure that all of your kids are perfectly behaved, especially at the grocery store, but can I just say that mine ... are not. Hallie is my fiery redhead(well, strawberry blonde, but close enough) and she just tells it like it is. Like the time I was visiting teaching and she told my partner that she had a "big fat tummy" (thanks grandma, for teaching her that one). Or the time she told a perfect stranger at Costco that he "looked funny" (which he did) and then proceeded to tell him that he also talked weird. What does a mother say atoment like that?
Then there's the sweet and loving side of Hallie that always has to find something nice to say to her friends. Like the time she told her 5 year old cousin Christian (while they were in the tub all togetherand in her most innocent voice), "I like your big penus Christian!" Aaaaah! What is a mom to do? Hallie also likes to point out that every random girl her age she sees is her "friend."
What would we do without our Hallie to brighten everyday?

What a big boy!

Last week Jaxon came to Alan and told him he wanted his training wheels off. So Alan took them off and Jaxon took off. He learned to ride without training wheels whithin a matter of a few minutes and he is sooo proud of himself. He wants to show everyone who comes over how he can ride. He goes really fast now and he loves that too. We are so proud of Jaxon. Now Hallie keeps saying she wants her off, so daddy better get on that soon.

Introducing....Tyson John Arthur

Our little baby Tyson was born on Aug. 21st 2007 at 7:48 am. He was the best birthday present ever for his Dad whose b-day was on the 22nd. Ty weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz. and was 20.5 inches long. He is suuuch a good baby. He was sleeping through the night right out of the hospital (I know - you're all jealous), but don't worry - he wakes up at least once to eat now. And can I just say he is a chuunker. He eats astronomical amounts of food and he grew a double chin this week. I am so proud of the little guy. We are all enjoying him so much.